The Coachella Valley includes a diverse array of rare plant and animal species and natural communities representative of the Colorado Desert. Katie will discuss the rich biodiversity of our region and the local, state, and federal agencies and community organizations that came together to develop a conservation plan to ensure the protection of that diversity. […]

Strap on your hiking boots for a full moon hike on the first mile of the Indio Badlands Trail. As we embark on this hike, the moonlight casts enchanting shadows on the desert terrain. The sky will be brilliantly lit up for the desert creatures to be scurrying about. This family-friendly adventure offers a manageable […]

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO CONSTRUCTION AT THE TRAILHEAD – ESTE EVENTO HA SIDO CANCELADO.   A Friends of the Desert Mountains volunteer astronomer will be setting up a telescope and is inviting you to a “star party”. A clear night sky offers an ever-changing display of fascinating objects to see — stars, […]

Póngase las botas de montaña para una caminata bajo la luna llena en el sendero Indio Hills. Mientras nos embarcamos en esta caminata, la luz de la luna proyecta sombras encantadoras sobre el terreno desértico. El cielo estará brillantemente iluminado para que las criaturas del desierto puedan corretear. Esta aventura familiar ofrece una caminata manejable […]

Grab your binoculars and join a Friends’ volunteer docent birding expert to look for our feathered desert residents. In this unique urban area, we are still able to find a little native desert environment surrounded by local trees and shrubs that many of our feathered friends call home. As you walk the perimeter of an […]

Our Friends’ volunteer docent will take you on a guided hike through the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument! You will see excellent views of the Coachella Valley and learn the history of the area. You will see many unique desert plants and learn how they survive the long hot summers. There are […]

Join a National Monument park ranger for an outdoor fun yoga flow for all skill levels. Connect with the landscape through a sequence of physical postures, movements, and breathing techniques that also strengthen your body and mind. Poses commonly mimic Earth, animals and trees. This outdoor activity is routinely performed barefoot. Bring a yoga mat […]

Join us for a hike into the Chuckwalla National Monument. On this hike we will walk through a wash full of amazing geology with colors that you will not see elsewhere. We will explore an impressive slot canyon with walls towering over our head and then return to the main canyon to continue exploring. With […]

Have questions about desert tortoises? Come visit our desert tortoise enclosure and learn about conservation efforts to study and protect our wild desert tortoise population in the Monument. Also, great opportunity to meet Bowser, our adopted Mojave desert tortoise who lives on site. Meet at the tortoise enclosure any time between 8:30am – 11:30am. NO […]

Celebrate Wildflower Festival Day by taking a walk among the many blooms this spring. All seeds in the ground had a very big party as the rains fell in December. After their party they decided they would let their blooms shine for The Wildflower Festival. Join our Friends’ volunteers on this 0.25 mile walk to […]

Join us for the 19th annual Coachella Valley Wildflower Festival. Wildflower Festival is a free day-long event featuring skilled local artisans, shopping and information booths, enchanting wildflower displays, an exciting raffle, fun times and live music the 1st Saturday in March. Our huge interactive Kids’ Zone and “Naturally Inspired” youth art contest brings families from […]

Have questions about desert tortoises? Come visit our desert tortoise enclosure and learn about conservation efforts to study and protect our wild desert tortoise population in the Monument. Also, great opportunity to meet Bowser, our adopted Mojave desert tortoise who lives on site. Meet at the tortoise enclosure any time between 8:30am – 11:30am. NO […]

Grab your binoculars and join a Friends’ volunteer docent birding expert to look for our feathered desert residents. In this unique urban area, we are still able to find a little native desert environment surrounded by local trees and shrubs that many of our feathered friends call home. As you walk the perimeter of an […]

Grab your binoculars and join a Friends’ volunteer docent birding expert to look for our feathered desert residents. In this unique urban area, we are still able to find a little native desert environment surrounded by local trees and shrubs that many of our feathered friends call home. As you walk the perimeter of an […]

This is one of the newest trails to open in the Coachella Valley. The first mile of the trail is in the Sand to Snow Monument. Beginning at mile two of the trail you will be in Joshua Tree National Park. We will explore the area and learn about the Metropolitan Water District and how […]

Join us for a new and exciting hike in the Mecca Hills in the Chuckwalla National Monument. This route takes us through a desert wash rich with striking geology and diverse desert plant life. We will continue to a slot canyon that opens into a unique enclosed space resembling a tall but short cave. After […]

Join our Friends’ volunteer docents for a nature walk in Blixseth Mountain Park. The Park features both native and non-native desert landscape, a wide walking path with benches for observing desert vistas, plants, and mountains. We will share fun facts about desert flora and fauna as well as interesting information about the Native Cahuilla people. […]

Join a guided hike through the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument! You will have excellent views of the Coachella Valley and learn some of the local history. You will see many unique desert plants and learn how they survive the long hot summers. There are lizards and animals on the trail including […]

Our Friends’ volunteer docent will take you on a guided hike through the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument! You will see excellent views of the Coachella Valley and learn the history of the area. You will see many unique desert plants and learn how they survive the long hot summers. There are […]

Join a National Monument park ranger for an outdoor fun yoga flow for all skill levels. Connect with the landscape through a sequence of physical postures, movements, and breathing techniques that also strengthen your body and mind. Poses commonly mimic Earth, animals and trees. This outdoor activity is routinely performed barefoot. Bring a yoga mat […]

Join Friends of the Desert Mountains’ Oscar Ortiz and UC Riverside Center for Conservation Biology for a lecture that will delve into the ongoing climate change crisis, its global impacts, its local impacts, and possible solutions to create a climate-resilient Coachella Valley. No reservations required for this free lecture, view event at Rancho Mirage Library. For […]

Enjoy strolling the Ed Hastey Garden Walk led by Friends’ volunteer docent. It is a great introduction to learn about native plants and animals that inhabit our desert, and the value of urban conservation. This short, easy walk is suitable for persons of all ages and abilities with a paved 3-foot-wide path. All topics are […]

Lace up for the Wildflower 5K Trail Run/Walk with Friends of the Desert Mountains, launching at a brand-new venue in La Quinta Cove. The course starts and finishes at the Cove Trailhead, following the Cove trails as it cuts through the palm oasis picnic area and continues onto the Bear Creek Nature Trail and the […]

This Tortoise Chat has been cancelled, please attend our next tortoise chat on Sunday, March 15th. Have questions about desert tortoises? Come visit our desert tortoise enclosure and learn about conservation efforts to study and protect our wild desert tortoise population in the Monument. Also, great opportunity to meet Bowser, our adopted Mojave desert tortoise […]

Join us at our monthly Desert Mountains Art Fair! Mediums may include photography, paintings, ceramics, hand painted silks, and more. Support local artists and find beautiful and unique gifts and desert mementos, all while enjoying the natural beauty of our desert mountains! For more information contact the Visitor Center at 760-862-9984 or Friends of the […]

Calling All Nature Lovers & Community Champions! Are you passionate about protecting our beautiful desert landscapes? Do you love hiking, wildlife, or simply giving back to your community? Friends of the Desert Mountains needs YOU!We’re looking for enthusiastic, dedicated volunteers to help us preserve the natural wonders of the Coachella Valley. Whether you’re a trail […]

Welcome Back, Volunteers! As we gear up for another amazing season, we’re inviting all returning Friends of the Desert Mountains volunteers to join us for a mandatory orientation session.Why Attend?- Get the latest updates on our programs and projects- Brush up on best practices and volunteer guidelines- Sign your updated volunteer paperwork for the new […]

Join members of the Astronomical Society of the Desert for fun “sky tours” and direct observations of the night sky through telescopes and binoculars. This is a family event. Minors must be accompanied by parent or guardian. This event is wheelchair accessible with asphalt surfaces. Etiquette: please do not touch equipment unless requested. No white […]

As you walk the desert trails, have you noticed the holes and wondered who made them? Explore the Randall Henderson Trail with our volunteer docent leaders to learn the difference between burrows and holes, and the importance of these to the delicate balance of the environment. We will be looking for clues as to the […]

Have questions about desert tortoises? Come visit our desert tortoise enclosure and learn about conservation efforts to study and protect our wild desert tortoise population in the Monument. Also, great opportunity to meet Bowser, our adopted Mojave desert tortoise who lives on site. Meet at the tortoise enclosure any time between 8:30am – 11:30am. NO […]